Miss Marmalade

Miss Marmalade is at 126 Union Street, Brunswick, in a row of terraces. Busy even early on a Sunday (it has the reputation of being child-friendly), it has a welcoming atmosphere and is simply, warmly decorated. My herby scrambled eggs had some lovely flavours although it was a little bit too much of a "frying pan", omelette-style scramble for my taste (Gordon Ramsay's scrambled eggs are essentially what I'm after); my companion's eggs benedict on cornbread with mashed potato hash brown looked amazing. Service was quick and staff were friendly: what more could you want on a sunny Sunday coming out of winter?

Queen Victoria Market II

I confess that I was distinctly unimpressed on my first visit to the Queen Victoria Market: having been told it was a wonderful place, I was disappointed to find Tat4Tourists instead. A little further exploration, however, and the scales have fallen from my eyes: inside one of the cavernous structures making up the market is a magical kingdom, an array of deli shops selling incredible food of all kinds: salami, arancini, white anchovies, macarons, mozzarella, fresh butter, yogurt, bread, honey, wine, olives, bacalhau, cheeses, antipasti, tea, pesto... There's a delightfully old-fashioned aesthetic to the design of each store and everything seems highly coloured, fresh and interesting. We came away with four plump, crisp salted caramel macarons (my favourite); a pot of mixed berry yogurt; the juiciest white anchovies; and an array of fruit and vegetables from the fruit market section.

Movida Aqui

Movida is an enormous enterprise, comprising four restaurants in all (although one, the Terrazza, is closed for the winter), and Movida Aqui takes up an imposing space on the first floor at 500 Bourke Street, close to the Supreme Court. The decor is nicely done, with quirky touches (clay lampshades, bright milk crates, wooden panels) and the food is spot on: beautifully presented and deftly arranged, with touches of humour, but best of all, delicious to the last mouthful. The waiter serving us was both enthusiastic and knowledgeable. The only thing that distinguishes Movida from one of those excellent little tapas bars in Granada, Madrid or Barcelona is the price: lunch for two, hardly in excessive quantities and shown in its entirety below, was $66. Double click on any of the photos of food below and then tell me you're not hungry.

Gamba Con Sobrasada $8.50 each
Smoked prawn with sobrasada cigarillo

Grilled prawn

Anchoa - white anchovies with toast

Bocadillo de calamares $6.50 each
Calamari sandwich with Basque guindilla and mayonnaise

Bomba $4.50 each
Catalan Potato bomb filled with chorizo

Sardina $4.50 each
Imported Spanish Artisan ‘Cuca’ sardine with tomato on toast

"Airbagette" roll filled with air and wrapped in jamon iberico